Deans relishes passionate side of series

Robbie Deans has been consistently labelled a conservative coach throughout his tenure as Wallabies supremo, but the former Canterbury Crusaders boss well and truly threw the cat amongst the pigeons with his selection for Saturday’s opening clash with the Lions in Brisbane.

Deans has picked three debutants in arguably the biggest game of his coaching career in the form of fleet-footed ACT Brumbies centre Christian Leali’fano and his clubmate Ben Mowen, who packs down at blindside, not to mention the selection of former rugby league and Aussie Rules superstar Israel Folau on the wing.

It’s shaping up to be a hugely-intriguing opening Test, and Deans remembers the hysteria and drama of the epic 2001 series with fond memories.